Ratings Committee Advances Numerous Items to Board

The Ratings Committee wrapped up the day’s proceedings by moving numerous ballots to the Board of Directors, holding a lengthy debate on an implementation plan for 2010 documents, and conducting an informal straw poll.

After Steve Strawn of JELD-WEN opened the meeting, John McFee of WDMA, and chair of the Labeling Subcommittee, brought forward two action items on behalf of his subcommittee:

-A motion to move NFRC 700 Applied Film Ballot to the Board of Directors for approval upon which may be used upon publication and mandatory on July 1, 2010.
-A motion that the metric labeling requirements be allowed to two (2) decimal places and recommend that the NFRC 700 be revised to allow the requirements. Direct the working group to develop a recommendation as soon as possible and to bring that recommendation directly to the Board for final action.

The Ratings Committee passed both motions. The latter issue is on a fast track due to upcoming requirements in Canada.

The Certification Subcommittee, chaired by Joe Jonely of Amsco Windows, then presented five motions to the Ratings Committee, all of which passed:

-Move the NFRC 700-2010 Applied Films Ballot to the Board of Directors for approval and to be implemented upon publication.
-Move the NFRC 700-2010 Lineal Supplier Ballot to the Board of Directors for approval and to be implemented upon publication.
-Move the NFRC 700-2010 Thermo-Physical Ballot to the Board of Directors for approval and to be implemented upon publication.
-Move the NFRC 700-2010 Private Labeler Ballot to the Board of Directors for approval and to be implemented upon publication.
-Move to establish a mandatory date of April 1, 2010, requiring highlighting or circling the correct performance value on the door label as listed in NFRC 700 Figure B-2.

Gary Curtis of ECOS Consulting, who is co-chair of the Component Modeling Approach (CMA) Ratings Subcommittee, presented one action item from his subcommittee. The Ratings Committee considered and approved the subcommittee’s motion to approve the NFRC 705-2010 Ballot and forward it to the Board of Directors for approval with implementation upon publication.

Thoman Presents 2010 Procedures Plan
The agenda then turned to new business. NFRC Board Member Mike Thoman of Architectural Testing presented a recommended implementation plan for 2010 procedures. After a long debate, the Ratings Committee passed a motion to approve the following implementation plan for 2010 procedures.

Any existing certification shall be allowed to exist for the remainder of the existing certification life.

1) Certification of new products and recertification of existing products may use the 2004 ratings under the following conditions:

a) Testing and simulations shall be completed using 2004 procedures no later than 1/31/2010; and
b) The reports for testing and simulation using the 2004 procedures shall be submitted to an IA in their entirety no later than 2/28/2010; and
c) The IA may issue 2004 CARs through 6/30/2010.

2) Certification of new products and recertification of existing products may use the 2010 ratings starting 1/1/2010

3) Additions and revisions of existing certification shall be performed using the procedure of the original certification.

4) A product tested in accordance to 102-2004 prior to 2/1/2010 may be used as a validation test in conjunction with an NFRC 100 -2010 simulation until four years after the date of the thermal test.

This plan now moves to the Board of Directors for approval.

Ratings Committee Conducts Informal Poll
Strawn concluded the Ratings Committee meeting by conducting an informal straw poll on three questions:

1) To allow (encourage) that ratings and labeling plans be approved prior to technical committee work when starting on rating new products.

Straw poll result: 19 agree, 4 disagree

2) Allow sash kits in pocket windows to be considered as attachment products.

Straw poll result: 10 agree, 8 disagree

3) Allow optional bulk labeling of windows, doors, and skylights. Bulk packagers up to 20 individual like products would qualify for one bulk label.

Straw poll result: 9 agree, 8 disagree

(This article was updated on 11/19/09.)